Born Under a Bad Sign
Booker T the MG's Lyrics

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One, two
Born under a bad sign
I been down since I begin to crawl
If it wasn't for bad luck, I wouldn't have no luck at all

Hard luck and trouble is my only friend
I been on my own ever since I was ten
Born under a bad sign

I been down since I begin to crawl
If it wasn't for bad luck, I wouldn't have no luck at all

I can't read, haven't learned how to write
My whole life has been one big fight
Born under a bad sign
I been down since I begin to crawl
If it wasn't for bad luck, I wouldn't have no luck at all

I ain't lyin'
If it wasn't for bad luck I wouldn't have no kind-a luck
If it wasn't for real bad luck, I wouldn't have no luck at all

Wine and women is all I crave
A big legged woman is gonna carry me to my grave
Born under a bad sign
I been down since I begin to crawl
If it wasn't for bad luck, I wouldn't have no luck at all

Yeah, my bad luck boy
Been havin' bad luck all of my days, yes

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Booker T. & the MG's Born Under a Bad Sign express a sense of fatalism and acceptance of one's bad luck. The singer suggests that they have had a difficult life from the very beginning, "born under a bad sign". They describe how they have been facing misery since they were a baby, and if it weren't for bad luck, they wouldn't have any luck at all. The singer can't read, hasn't learned how to write, and has been fighting their whole life. Wine and women seem to be the only things to bring any joy.

The singer seems defeated, accepting that their life is the way it is because of some cosmic force. Even if they try to change their luck, the outcome will remain the same. Despite this, they show resilience by continuing to fight and survive. The final line, "Been havin' bad luck all of my days", is a somber acceptance of their life's circumstance.

Line by Line Meaning

One, two
Counting in before starting to sing Born Under a Bad Sign song

Born under a bad sign
The singer believes they are cursed to live a difficult life

I been down since I begin to crawl
The singer has always struggled with hardships

If it wasn't for bad luck, I wouldn't have no luck at all
The only luck the artist has experienced is negative luck

Hard luck and trouble is my only friend
The difficulties the artist has faced have become the only constant in their life

I been on my own ever since I was ten
The singer has been without help or support since a young age

I can't read, haven't learned how to write
The singer hasn't received a complete education, possibly contributing to their difficulties

My whole life has been one big fight
The artist feels as if their entire life has been a struggle

I ain't lyin'
The artist wants to emphasize the truth of their situation

If it wasn't for bad luck I wouldn't have no kind-a luck
The artist believes they only experience negative luck, nothing positive

If it wasn't for real bad luck, I wouldn't have no luck at all
The singer feels that their life is so consistently difficult that without it, they would have no luck at all

Wine and women is all I crave
The artist finds some solace in alcohol and relationships

A big legged woman is gonna carry me to my grave
The singer feels as if a relationship may be their only salvation, even in death

Yeah, my bad luck boy
The singer has fully accepted their situation as one of bad luck

Been havin' bad luck all of my days, yes
The singer has only experienced hardships, with no respite or escape

Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: BOOKER T. JONES, WILLIAM BELL

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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